Sheriff Darren E. Campbell stated: On Tuesday December 13, 2016 members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Team were working in the area of I-40 west bound near the Davie County Line when one of the deputies noticed a dark colored passenger vehicle driving erratically.

 Deputy Mike Hicks stopped the vehicle and while approaching the car, it sped off at a high rate of speed. Deputy Hicks gave chase and the car exited the interstate abruptly at the Old Mocksville Road Exit.  The driver continued driving in a reckless manner, north until he turned left on Jane Sowers Road. The car then turned onto Carl Austin Road. At the dead end of Carl Austin Road the vehicle hit a guard rail. The driver then crawled over a female passenger and exited through the door. He jumped a fence, ran a short distance and attempted to gain entry into an occupied vehicle. He did not gain access and continued on foot until he located an unlocked vehicle and drove off.  The driver struck another parked vehicle and then wrecked his second car. He then jumped and ran across both lanes of Interstate 77 North, ran across the median, and was then caught and arrested by additional deputies near the South bound lanes of I-77.

The passenger in the car received minor injuries and refused treatment by Iredell County EMS at the scene of the first wreck.  It was soon determined the driver, Matthew Larry Shumate was wanted out of Tennessee on several fugitive warrants for home invasions.

Shumate was treated for minor injuries and was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center where he was charged with Felony Flee to Elude, Felony Larceny. Shumate was placed under 15,000.00 dollars secured bond for these and was placed under No Bond for the Fugitive Warrants stemming out of Tennessee. Additional charges are anticipated in this investigation.